Dinosaur Planters

My friend, Sandra, sent me this photo and I thought I'd share. Such a cute idea. Thank you, Sandra!

Nature Collection

Clay has been taking time to smell the flowers lately...literally. He wants to stop and smell every flower we see. He also likes collecting leaves, picking flowers and finding little bits around the yard. I wanted to have a way to display his collection since I know it is important to him. I used a little bowl and filled it with Easter grass from last year's Easter basket and it sits on our dining room table. It is a great way to celebrate spring. 

Garden Projects for Kids

Clay has been working in our family garden since he was 2 and would take our friends and family around the backyard on garden tours. He would recite all of the vegetables growing and couldn't wait to pick all of the carrots. 


He is really helpful around the garden now and even has a garden of his own. It is fun to watch his excitement as a new flower blooms or sprouts emerge each day. He also loves watching the birds and squirrels as they find the sunflower seeds in the feeders or acorns on the ground.


We also found that giving him a corner of the yard that is his own to make puddles, grow his own flowers and vegetables, make forts and use his imagination has really made a difference in the way he interacts with nature in the backyard. He even came up with the idea to take a ride to Mercury in his spaceship (his playhouse, which is why he wanted to add the door/curtain). 


Maybe our backyard will even become a Certified Wildlife Habitat some day!


There are some really great resources out there for gardening with your kids. I also highly recommend Gardenheads Garden Camp (now enrolling for summer camp). Clay attends once a week and LOVES it!




Fun Projects


Pizza Garden

Garden Markers

Garden in a Shell

Fairy Garden

Plant a Rainbow

Butteryfly Garden


Pea, Cucumber or Scarlet Runner Bean Tunnel or Sunflower House






Books for Young Gardeners

DIY Sensory Boxes and Playrooms

You've probably seen a sensory table at your child's preschool. The kids love them and they are great for engaging all of their senses and using their imagination. If you have a little neat freak in you, just make sure you set the boundaries ahead of time and either have them work in a large plastic container, outside or a designated sensory table. 

Suggested Materials for your sensory table (be sure to make sure materials are age appropriate so they do not choke or eat something they're not supposed to!)

rice, oats, dried pasta, ribbon flowers, buttons, dried beans or lentils, water, sand (try the colored kind at art supply stores), play dough and seasonal items like fake snow, dried flowers or leaves, rocks, etc. 

Garden in a Box, Coffee Box, Construction Box and More!

Mermaid Sensory Box

Spring Sensory Box

Ideas for Sensory Tables

Shed Playrooms